Crucible

The same nightmare

Flamed every night.

It burned in my eyes,

It burned too bright. 

Screaming and clawing at

The thick air trying to

Catch the shadows

Breaking my wind chimes.

Your hands playing on her waist,

Twirling to the tune of our song.

Dancing the dance whose

Steps I practice in my sleep.

I shudder awake with

Fire on my forehead and

Blood on my sheets

Painting my throat red.

I tear away from your smile,

Concealing the

Multitude of oceans

That drown me.

Your soft brown eyes,

Holding  infinite questions,

Arresting the answer

That chokes all my words.

Why is loving you like

Fighting in a battlefield?

Like being wounded in a

War you’ve been leading. 

You’re the touchstone

Clasping my feet;

The ink of my Great Crucible

I refuse to erase.

- Sayantani Sarkar.